WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it is “not buying” that the decision by Hong Kong authorities to let admitted leaker Edward Snowden leave for Russia was a technical decision. It says it was a deliberate choice to release a fugitive and that “unquestionably” damages U.S.-China relations.

White House spokesman Jay Carney says the U.S. assumes that Snowden is now in Russia and that the White House now expects Russian authorities to look at all the options available to them to expel Snowden to face charges in the U.S. for releasing secret surveillance information.